By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A 72-year-old man has been charged with assaulting a girl seven times his junior.
Thomas Deal, who celebrates his 73rd birthday in May, is accused of indecently assaulting a three-year-old child.
Deal pleaded not guilty to the charge when arraigned before Magistrate Samuel McKinney and his case was adjourned to January 20 for trial.
Bail was granted in the amount of $3,500.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Robert Pennerman was charged before Coroner Jeanine Weech-Gomez yesterday with having sex with a 15-year-old girl on New Year’s Day.
Due to the nature of the charge, he was not required to enter a plea and the case was adjourned to March 6 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
Bail was denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) in the interim. He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
During yesterday’s arraignment, and in response to a question by the magistrate, Pennerman suggested that none of his loved ones knew he had been arrested and charged.
“The station didn’t allow me to call,” he said.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.